Media, PA – Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer today announced that charges have been filed against Michael and Nicole Swanson, 41 and 37, respectively, of Chester, PA, for the rape, involuntary deviate sexual assault, and aggravated indecent sexual assault of a person with a mental disability, as well as charges of kidnapping to facilitate a felony, theft, and conspiracy. The charges against Michael Swanson were perpetrated against two victims, ages 30 and 27. The charges against Nicole Swanson were perpetrated against the 30 year old victim. Psychological assessments of the victims indicated that victim N.M. has an I.Q. of 56, and victim L.D. has an I.Q. of 45, making both victims incapable of consenting to the actions of these defendants.
“It is difficult to comprehend the truly heinous actions of these defendants. The defendants knowingly exploited two intellectually disabled young women. They used them for their sexual gratification, and stole their benefits. They attempted to hide their conduct by cutting off contact with the victims’ families, and went so far as to remove the women to Florida to evade detection. Defendant Michael Swanson impregnated one of the victims and brought a child into this vile situation – joining seven other children fathered by Swanson. The members of law enforcement, the medical professionals, and the social workers who have worked on this case stand united in calling out the depravity of these defendants’ actions. They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
On January 3, 2024 investigators from the Child Abuse and Exploitation Task Force met at the Upper Chichester Police Department to be briefed on an investigation undertaken after outreach from a concerned family member of N.M, identified as a 30 year old woman. Investigators were told that N.M. was introduced to Michael Swanson through a friend, a 27 year old woman identified as L.D. At the time of the introduction, L.D. was pregnant with Swanson’s child. N.M. and L.D. knew each other from their special education program at Chichester High School. The three of them entered into a sexual relationship. Swanson persuaded N.M. to move out of her father’s home in Linwood by telling her that her father was stealing her Social Security benefits. N.M. moved into 240 Broomall Street, Chester, where Swanson resided with his ex-wife Nicole Swanson and their six children, together with L.D., and the homeowner, David Dziobczynski.
In February 2023, L.D. gave birth at Riddle Hospital. A report was made to social services due to L.D.’s disability and due to Michael Swanson’s numerous previous cases with social services
In July 2023, Michael Swanson moved N.M, L.D. and her baby, Nicole Swanson (together with seven children), and another woman, Caitlyn Eusden to Tallahassee, Florida. The group moved into a double-wide trailer. A witness informed investigators that the reason Michael Swanson moved to Florida was that he was concerned about social services looking into his involvement with L.D. and her child. While in Florida, N.M. was beaten by Eusden, Nicole Swanson, and the children, and a video of the beating was recorded and sent to N.M.’s family. It was as a result of this video that N.M.’s sister was ultimately able to locate N.M and remove her from the situation.
A forensic interview of N.M. was conducted on January 10, 2024 and February 7, 2024, at the Child Advocacy Center of Delaware County. In the course of the interview, N.M. revealed details about the sexual exploitation that occurred at the behest of both defendants. N.M. reported that she was sexually assaulted by Michael Swanson approximately two times per day. She was instructed not to tell anyone about the activities in the house. The defendant took away N.M.’s cell phone and it was never returned to her. In addition, N.M. reported that he took her “food card, checks, money and insurance card”. The payee on N.M.’s Social Security card was changed to Michael Swanson in June 2023, using the Chester address. Michael Swanson told N.M that if she needed something he would get it for her, but he never did. Sexual relations also occurred between Nicole Swanson and N.M. during this period. N.M. reported that there were cameras in various locations throughout the house. N.M. stated that the homeowner had told her that he was able to view the camera feed from inside and outside the house, including in Michael Swanson’s room where the sexual abuse was taking place.
As a result of the investigation, Michael Swanson was arrested and extradited to Pennsylvania.
As a result of the abuse that was revealed against N.M., an investigation into the abuse of L.D. was conducted. On March 11, 2024, a forensic interview of L.D. was conducted at the Child Advocacy Center located in Lancaster County, South Carolina. The investigation revealed that Michael Swanson engaged in numerous sex acts with L.D. while residing in the house in Chester. Paternity testing confirmed that Michael Swanson is the father of L.D.’s child. The payee on L.D.’s benefits was changed to Michael Swanson. L.D. reported that the defendant had taken a video of L.D. doing “sexual things” with Michael in a bedroom, and that Nicole had taken a video of L.D. “sucking [Michael’s] thing” without L.D.’s consent. L.D. stated that Nicole made her perform acts on Michael when children were present. She also reported that Michael would take away her phone as punishment. L.D. reported that she was afraid of Nicole because “she beat people with her fists.”
On April 15, 2024, L.D. was assessed by a psychologist in South Carolina and determined to lack the capacity to consent to a sexual relationship. Using federal grant funds provided by a grant to support the office’s efforts to combat human trafficking, L.D. and her child have been relocated and currently reside with family in South Carolina.
It is anticipated that additional charges will be brought by authorities in Florida against both defendants. In addition, it is expected that federal authorities may pursue charges against Michael Swanson for theft of the victims’ Social Security benefits.
“I want to thank the Upper Chichester Police Department and the Chester Police Department for their work on this case. I also want to thank Detective Sergeant Steven Bannar and Detective Nicole Young of the Special Victims Unit of our Criminal Investigations Division, as well as the Deputy leading our Special Victims Unit, Kristen Kemp. Finally, special thanks are due to the staff at the Victim Assistance Center, the Child Advocacy Center of Delaware County, as well as their colleagues at the Child Advocacy Center in Lancaster County, South Carolina, for their professionalism and sensitivity in handling this difficult case. Working this type of case is heart-wrenching, and I deeply respect the men and women who work so tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Stollsteimer.
Michael Swanson was arraigned and bail was set at $900,000 in the case involving victim N.M. Bail has not yet been set in the case involving L.D. Nicole Swanson was arraigned and bail was set at $1,000,000 in the case involving N.M. The defendants have been remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.
CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
Contact: Margie McAboy, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.